Online schooling is not just for kids! One of the trends that emerged early in the coronavirus pandemic lockdown was adult learners seeking out ways to educate and enrich themselves while working and sheltering in place at home. It’s a phenomenon that seems to have staying power. But what are the best online learning platforms for adults? Our correspondent Abbie Greenbaum has curated a list of the 15 best online learning classes, platforms and educational websites for adults, including art class, music instruction, academic lectures and more. Time to get smart, dear reader.
back to school season is not just for kids
More than two years into the pandemic, some quarantine activities have all but faded from memory (we miss you, banana bread). But others – like Zoom, handicrafts, baking and remote work – have become a permanent fixture in our everyday lives.
[white_box]Join our community
For access to insider ideas and information on the world of luxury, sign up for our Dandelion Chandelier newsletter. And see luxury in a new light.
sign up now >
[/white_box]
Take, for instance, online learning. Before the pandemic, we never would have dreamed that there were so many ways to learn from home. Now we know that there are hundreds, and that most of them are much easier to access than you might think.
Best online learning classes, platforms and educational websites for adults, including art, cooking, academic lectures, gardening and more.
Whether you want to become a better crafter, a better writer, or a better businessperson (or if you’d simply like to study up on a specific subject), there are many ways to get started. No matter your budget, your schedule, or your hours available.
So, in honor of back to school season, we’re celebrating adult learners. Here are fifteen of our favorite online learning platforms and educational websites for adults – ’cause why should kids have all the fun?
What are the Best Online Learning Platforms for Adults?
1. Masterclass
Masterclass outshines the competition in at least one arena- they have the most famous celebrities turned teachers out of any other platform. Whether you choose to learn about conservation from Dr. Jane Goodall, acting from Natalie Portman, or basketball skills from Stephen Curry, complete access to all classes is available for $15/month. The classes are in the form of sequential video lectures that total anywhere from two to five hours. Think a cross between TED Talk and documentary style confessional.
2. Coursera
Coursera offers nearly 2,000 free adult education courses from some of the world’s most respected and prestigious universities. It is the place to go if you might be interested in a degree or advancing your career. But there’s also plenty to satisfy the person who always regretted not taking art history or philosophy in college. Choose from “What is Contemporary Art?” taught by curators from the Museum of Modern Art or study Game Theory from economics and computer science professors at Stanford. Because all the classes are pre-recorded, you can start whenever it is convenient and go at your own pace. Did we mention that many of the classes are free? There is also financial aid available for those that are not.
3. Udemy
With almost 200,000 online video courses, Udemy must have one of the world’s largest libraries of online learning. And there are new additions every month. The content is taught by experts in the field and in addition to catering to individual learners, the site has also been tapped by businesses such as Adidas, Kaiser Permamente, and General Mills to provide educational services to their employees. The interface is one of the easiest and cleanest to navigate which will keep you inspired and wanting to take more classes – from personal development to photography to coding. Fees are based per course.
what are the best online learning classes, academic lectures and educational websites for adults?
4. Skillshare
For the creatively minded, Skillshare touts teachers who are icons and experts in the visual arts, publishing and design – as well as an online community for support and networking. Members can share their work with one another and get instant feedback through likes and comments. And they can also join medium specific groups – like “Watercolor Enthusiasts” or “Creative Business Owners.” Expand your network while learning at the same time. Membership starts at $8.99 a month or $99 for an annual plan.
5. Creative Live
Creative Live differentiates itself from the other online art class for adults competitors by offering free live classes daily. You can choose between pre-recorded lessons on demand, or you can see what is “on air” on the day you’d like to take a class. Learn about photography, creative writing, or even how to build your own tote bag. You can also study up on some practical life skills, like how to interview for a job. Access starts at $15/month or $149 billed annually, and grants you lessons with Pulitzer Prize winners, best-selling authors, and handpicked experts.
6. The Great Courses
The Great Courses produces college-level classes taught by college professors (and came to our attention after reading that it is one of Bill Gates’ favorite sources for great lectures). The courses are available as videos-on-demand, and as DVDs. You can also listen on Audible – perfect for a long road trip. Each course also includes a printed guidebook with photos and illustrations, suggestion readings, and questions to consider. Choose from relevant topics like America’s Long Struggle Against Slavery or The Economics of Uncertainty.
what are the best online learning classes, art class, academic lectures and educational websites for adults?
7. Harvard Extension
If you’ve always wanted to say you went to Harvard, consider the Harvard Extension School. It was founded with the mission to create an affordable way for any motivated student to take courses at Harvard. There are a collection of free videotaped lectures from illustrious Harvard professors on American poetry, Abstract Algebra, and Buddhism, amongst others. There is also an option in some classes to obtain a certificate of completion for an affordable fee. Courses differ in length – but are usually a minimum of one-week – and there are free options available.
8. Open Yale Courses
Open Yale Courses provides lectures and other materials from selected Yale College courses to the public free of charge. Courses span the full range of liberal arts disciplines, including humanities, social sciences, and physical and biological sciences. Each course includes a full set of class lectures produced in high-quality video accompanied by such other course materials as syllabi, suggested readings, exams, and problem sets. The lectures are available as downloadable videos, and an audio-only version is also offered. In addition, searchable transcripts of each lecture are provided. While the breadth of courses may not be as large as some of the other sites, we found it to be one of the most comprehensive, resembling a true undergraduate college course.
9. TED-Ed
The TED-Talk empire hardly needs an introduction and the TED-Ed initiative makes short video lessons worth sharing, aimed at life long learners, young and old. Within TED-Ed’s growing library of lessons, you will find carefully curated educational videos, many of which are collaborations between educators and animators. You won’t get a fully immersive and in-depth class here but it’s perfect for sparking your curiosity about thousands of things you’ve always wondered about like “How does alcohol make you drunk?”, “Why do American’s Vote on Tuesdays?” , or “How to Build an Antiracist World”.
10. Duolingo
There is a lot of competition out there for online foreign language learning platforms. We chose Duolingo as our preferred site because quite simply, it makes learning fun. Users first choose between 30+ languages and decide on how many minutes a day they are willing to commit. After taking a short placement test, the attractive and intuitive interface prompts learners to play games, earn coins and unlock new levels by mastering skills. Imagine ditching your addictive iPhone game and replacing it with a new language for the price of a two lattes.
What are the best online learning classes, art class, academic lectures and educational websites for adults?
11. Crash Course
If you’re looking for the best place on the internet, head to Crash Course. We’re not surprised that the learning platform is such a good time – it was founded by bestselling novelists John and Hank Green, whose backgrounds in vlogging (and novel-writing) probably taught them a thing or two about how to create engaging lessons. Since its early days, Crash Course has expanded to include dozens of topics, with courses taught by experts in history, science, math, and literature, as well as topics like artificial intelligence, media literacy, and mythology. Learn something new, or brush up on an old topic that you may have forgotten. There are classes for all ages, they’re fun to watch, and they’re all completely free.
12. Romance Writing Workshop
Have you always wanted to write a romance novel, but struggled to know where to start? Beginning this October, beloved podcast hosts Vanessa Zoltan and Ariana Nedelman (Hot and Bothered, Harry Potter and the Sacred Text) will host a weekly romance novel workshop. (And if you’ve ever listened to any of their podcasts, then you’ll know that this is an experience you don’t want to miss). They will guide attendees through outlining, character creations, and more, so that you don’t have to go through the novel-writing process alone. Class will meet on Saturday mornings at 11 am, and will last for eight weeks. Tuition is sliding scale, $300- $500.
13. Catapult
You probably already know Catapult. They are famously one of the best places to go to learn to write, and to learn to write well. And lucky for us, many of their classes are available online. Whether you’re trying to write short stories, personal essays, or book reviews, chances are their course catalogue has what you’re looking for. And best of all, many of their online classes meet live – so you’ll be connecting with real people and learning alongside one another, even though you’re on your computer. (And of course, there are also self-guided courses). Look online for an extensive list of courses, meeting schedules, and prices, which range from $15 to $1,999.
14. The Urban Farm
If you developed a green thumb during the pandemic, we couldn’t be happier for you. But if you’re someone who hasn’t had the chance to do any gardening yet (and you’d like to) – guess what? There’s still time. And The Urban Farm is here to help. They offer a range of online classes for novice and expert gardeners alike, but if you’re just getting started, you may want to try Jump Start Your Urban Farm ($97). You’ll learn how to design and observe your green space, and you’ll be given exclusive access to a community of urban farmers.
15. America’s Test Kitchen
America’s Test Kitchen is here to help you become the kind of at-home chef you’ve always wanted to be. As well as offering recipe lessons, technique lessons, and “cooking basics” lessons – with videos that are searchable by difficulty, by main ingredient, and by recipe type – they also host an online cooking school for those who are really ready to take things to the next level. A standard membership is $39.95/year, while cooking school tuition is $39.95/month – and includes access to renowned test kitchen instructors.
What are the Best Online Learning Platforms for Adults?
Back to school is not only for the month of September – and not just for the kiddos. If you’re up for it, these 15 adult learning platforms and educational websites make an enriching activity for lifelong learners. Whether you’re taking an online art class for adults, or music instruction, or listening to an academic lecture on a topic that intrigues you. The only real question, dear reader: which one are you going to take first?
join our community
For access to insider ideas and information on the world of luxury, sign up for our Dandelion Chandelier Newsletter here. And see luxury in a new light.
This article contains affiliate links to products independently selected by our editors. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, Dandelion Chandelier receives a commission for qualifying purchases made through these links.
Abbie Martin Greenbaum grew up in New York City and currently lives in Brooklyn, where she drinks a lot of coffee and matches roommates together for a living. At Oberlin College, she studied English and Cinema, which are still two of her favorite things, along with dessert and musical theater. She believes in magic.
